Chapter 158: 【Fish Pond: lv3】; Flood Dragon Turns into Hornless Flood Dragon

Croak—Just as Ji Yuan returned to Misty Island, he saw the Great Toad tossing out a Second-Tier Early-Stage Spiritual Fish corpse from behind, as if presenting a treasure.

The flesh of the Spiritual Fish had long been devoured, leaving behind only a skeleton and a single Demon Core untouched. Even the fish scales were gone. Ji Yuan even suspected the Great Toad had finished eating the Spiritual Fish and then vomited it back out. But that did not matter. Just that one Demon Core alone could be sold for twenty pieces of Middle-Grade Spirit Stone.

So Ji Yuan gave it an entire Spiritual Pig to replenish itself.

This time, having returned, Ji Yuan could resume peaceful cultivation. Naturally, he had to prepare to purchase some small Spiritual Pigs and such.

After receiving the “subsistence supply” from the Great Toad, Ji Yuan went around the island and found Tu Yue, who was digging and farming. He accepted her “subsistence supply” for this period as well.

【Fish Pond】produced Water Essence Dew daily.

【Chicken Coop】produced Spirit Earth daily.

【Pigsty】produced Blood Essence daily, along with Runjade Fat once per month. As for the Tempering Aperture Pearl, since Ji Yuan had just completed Foundation Establishment and had not yet raised pigs, it naturally was unavailable.

【Wine Cellar】produced Wishful Wine.

Additionally, the 【Spiritual Field】had produced one Millennium Illusory Spirit Grass, the last of which Ji Yuan harvested before his Foundation Establishment.

Foundation Establishment took a year, and the 【Spiritual Field】naturally yielded another Millennium Illusory Spirit Grass.

With this, he was guaranteed three to four Foundation Establishment Pills worth of ingredients again.

Ji Yuan was delighted. This was another large sum of Spirit Stones. It seemed he truly had to make time to attend an auction and sell off some of it.

Otherwise, the Foundation Establishment Pills would be of no use sitting around.

After transferring all the gains from Tu Yue’s Storage Pouch into his own, Ji Yuan returned the now-empty Storage Pouch to her and told her to keep up the good work.

Then Ji Yuan leapt forward and in a few steps descended from halfway up the mountain to the base, arriving at the 【Fish Pond】.

Another building was ready for an upgrade—Ji Yuan could hardly resist the temptation.

Just as he stood in front of the empty 【Fish Pond】, intending to upgrade it, he suddenly recalled a past event.

It was the first time he upgraded this 【Fish Pond】. Among the Semi-Spiritual Fish inside, one had evolved into a Spiritual Fish.

It was thanks to that Spiritual Fish that he resolved a dire crisis back then.

Now, he was about to upgrade to level 3【Fish Pond】.

【Fish Pond: lv3 (Upgradeable)】

【Spiritual Effect: Produces 3 drops of Icy Soul Cold Dew daily. Increases chance of Spiritual Fish advancement, with a certain probability of ice attribute mutation. Growth rate +40%.】

【Spiritual Effect 2 (Rainbow Carp Turns into Flood Dragon): Carp-type Spiritual Fish have a very small chance to nurture an Ice Flood Dragon hatchling (Third-Tier Demon Beast).】

Given that, if there were already some carp-type Spiritual Fish in this【Fish Pond】...

Was it possible to trigger a critical effect and directly activate Spiritual Effect 2, “Rainbow Carp Turns into Flood Dragon”, granting him a Third-Tier Demon Beast hatchling?

Holding the belief that it’s better to believe than not, Ji Yuan held off upgrading for now.

He planned to first place more carp-type Spiritual Fish into the【Fish Pond】.

Who knew—he might just succeed?

Moreover, if he was going to raise fish, the current pond environment was no longer suitable.

Over a hundred acres of【Fish Pond】had been polluted by the previous Yin Ghost Formation.

In such conditions, if Spiritual Fish were placed in, they would most likely perish outright.

Ji Yuan first performed several water purification techniques. They worked—he did manage to clear the filth from the pond.

It once again appeared crystal-clear. However, the Yin Energy still lingered.

That was not an issue. Ji Yuan personally took charge, returned to the【Talisman Room】, and used several First-Tier Upper-Grade Dispel Yin Talismans. After some effort, he finally restored the【Fish Pond】to its original state.

Next was obtaining【Spiritual Fish】.

Catching them himself was too slow. Ji Yuan decided to buy them.

He also intended to buy some Spiritual Pigs and Spiritual Chickens while he was at it.

Since he was back for peaceful cultivation, the farm had to be running properly. He couldn’t waste the benefits of all these buildings.

Over the next half a month, Ji Yuan visited the surrounding Heishui Market and Huaiyin Market to purchase some Spiritual Pigs and Spiritual Chickens.

But carp-type Spiritual Fish were extremely rare. Even after visiting several Market Towns, he only managed to purchase four.

When Ji Yuan visited back then, he used the《Breath Concealment Art》to suppress his cultivation to the Peak Qi Refining Stage. Guided by a kind-hearted cultivator, he arrived at Linhai City.

If one wanted to purchase carp-type Spiritual Fish, this was the best place.

Because Linhai City had a unique tradition—every year, it held a “Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate” event.

At that time, Linhai City would release many carp-type Spiritual Fish at once, setting numerous obstacles along the path, prompting them to strive with all their might. The final goal was to see which Spiritual Fish could leap past the highest obstacle and cross the Dragon Gate in one go.

Participants could bet on their chosen Spiritual Fish, wagering on which would first leap through the Dragon Gate,

or at least wager on it successfully crossing the gate.

Ji Yuan understood it immediately—this was just another form of gambling.

A form of gambling exclusive to cultivators.

Ji Yuan heard the news right when Linhai City was holding the “Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate” event.

An ordinary cultivator might have rushed there immediately to join the excitement.

Unfortunately, Ji Yuan was not an ordinary cultivator. Upon hearing that Linhai City was currently holding the event, he immediately returned to Misty Island to cultivate.

He still needed to draw talismans and refine pills, comprehend the《Water Dragon Technique》and《Shadow-Following》, and also delve into the《Sword Manual》to enhance his cultivation.

Right now, Ji Yuan almost wished he could split himself into three parts to manage everything.

Another ten days passed. Ji Yuan estimated that the event in Linhai City had ended, so he departed once more.

When he inquired about it in Huaiyin Market, he learned—hah, Linhai City had indeed experienced an incident.

It was said that on the day of the “Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate,” Demonic Cultivators caused chaos. Along with a few troublemakers who seized the chance to burn, kill, and loot, Linhai City had turned into utter chaos.

Even the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Water Dragon Sect stationed in Linhai Town had stepped in, yet they only managed to drive the Demonic Cultivators away.

They wanted to kill them—but failed.

Among that group of Demonic Cultivators, there were Foundation Establishment cultivators as well.

“Damn, good thing I played it safe back then. Otherwise, even if I hadn’t been caught in it, I’d still have been smeared with filth.”

When Ji Yuan once again arrived in Linhai City at Peak Qi Refining Stage, aside from slightly stricter patrols and inspections, there were no notable differences.

Demonic Cultivator disturbances—rare, but not unheard of.

Ji Yuan strolled around Linhai City first, then found several shops that specialized in buying and selling Spiritual Fish. He explained that he wanted to buy carp-type Spiritual Fish.

The shopkeeper looked pleased upon hearing this.

But on the surface, he still frowned and said, “If this were any other year, you’d never have gotten the chance to buy them now. Right after the Carp Leaping event ends, those carp who’ve been tainted with ‘Dragon Energy’ are all snatched up instantly.”

“Oh? Is it related to this year’s Demonic Cultivators?”

Ji Yuan feigned curiosity and asked.

“Who says it isn’t? As soon as those Demonic Cultivators appeared, the event ended prematurely. Afterwards, all kinds of rumors spread, saying this batch of Spiritual Fish didn’t have Dragon Energy, were inauspicious or something, and prices wouldn’t rise.”

The shopkeeper shook his head and added, “Judging from your accent, fellow cultivator, you must be from out of town. I won’t lie to you—this year’s batch of carp isn’t that great.”

“You’re an honest shopkeeper.”

Ji Yuan hadn’t expected to find such a forthright person from a random shop.

“Do you still want them, fellow cultivator?”

“I do!”

Ji Yuan intended to raise them anyway, and wait for a Hornless Flood Dragon transformation—he didn’t care about any of that.

“How many do you want?”

Seeing Ji Yuan wasn’t discouraged, the shopkeeper was a bit relieved.

Ji Yuan smiled. “These Spiritual Fish are my master’s spirit beast’s favorite food. The more, the better.”

“Really?”

The shopkeeper was overjoyed.

“Really.”

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper immediately went to the back yard. Before long, he returned with a specially-made Spiritual Beast Pouch. “Inside are 8 late-stage Spiritual Fish, 19 mid-stage ones, and 32 early-stage ones.”

Ji Yuan took a glance—numbers checked out. He bought them on the spot.

After paying about ten pieces of Middle-Grade Spirit Stone, Ji Yuan didn’t linger and left right away.

Not that he didn’t want more—it was just that he had noticed something off about that shop.

From the shopkeeper’s demeanor and tone, Ji Yuan could sense that the man didn’t actually want to sell him those Spiritual Fish.

Why?

Ji Yuan didn’t know, and didn’t care to.

But he suspected it had something to do with the sudden chaos caused by the Demonic Cultivators.

Moments after Ji Yuan left Linhai City, he saw several flying boats streaking in behind him. As expected———Ji Yuan stopped concealing his identity, immediately swapped the Thunder Falcon Boat for the Spiritual Artifact-tier flying boat “Sky-Slicer.”

Under full power, his figure disappeared instantly.

The three Qi Refining cultivators chasing from behind blinked—and Ji Yuan’s figure was gone.

They circled around a few more times, but finding nothing, they helplessly returned to Linhai City.

Ji Yuan had no time for such nonsense. Having purchased the Spiritual Fish, he returned to Misty Island and immediately poured the contents of the Spiritual Beast Pouch into the【Fish Pond】.

As the Spiritual Fish were released, the special Spiritual Beast Pouch turned black-gray on the spot.

It was ruined.

It was a one-time-use item. Ji Yuan didn’t know which Artifact Refiner made it, but it had such an effect. He reckoned that out of all his spending on those fish, several dozen pieces of Low-Grade Spirit Stone must’ve gone into paying for this pouch.

Still, it was convenient.

Just as Ji Yuan was thinking this and before he could even upgrade the【Fish Pond】, he heard a loud splash from within.

Sweeping with Divine Sense, he immediately noticed a mid-First-Tier Spiritual Fish was undergoing a breakthrough. In a blink, it grew significantly in size.

Another late-First-Tier Spiritual Fish had appeared in the【Fish Pond】.

It must’ve already reached its breakthrough threshold and was pushed over by the【Fish Pond】’s effect.

Ji Yuan was delighted. He immediately brought out the materials required to upgrade the【Fish Pond】this time.

Thirty pieces of Middle-Grade Spirit Stone, three prism-shaped Profound Ice Crystals—so cold that Ji Yuan dared not touch them directly—

along with one jug of ice-attribute Demon Beast Essence Blood.

After laying out everything by the【Fish Pond】, Ji Yuan focused his thoughts and once again chose to upgrade.

As soon as the thought fell.

The entire【Fish Pond】instantly radiated a golden light, and the upgrade materials placed by the shore gradually vanished.

Golden brilliance enveloped the entire lake, as if some precious treasure was about to emerge.

The Spiritual Fish in the pond thrashed about eagerly. At the very moment the【Fish Pond】was upgraded, Ji Yuan swept his Divine Sense across and sensed at least six Spiritual Fish breaking through.

With that, he confirmed that upgrading the【Fish Pond】could truly trigger a critical effect.

It could indeed cause the Spiritual Fish to evolve.

If so—..—what about transforming into a Hornless Flood Dragon?

Ji Yuan kept his Divine Sense enveloping the entire【Fish Pond】, hoping to grasp that faint sliver of chance.

Unfortunately, even until the upgrade completed, not a single Spiritual Fish managed to evolve into an Ice Flood Dragon.

From the looks of it, the “extremely low probability” stated by the panel was indeed extremely low.

It couldn’t be forced.

Ji Yuan felt slightly disappointed, but then he saw, right above the【Fish Pond】, about one meter in the air, three drops of Cold Dew materializing.

Just like the Water Essence Dew that was produced earlier.

However, Water Essence Dew looked just like ordinary dew.

But this newly emerged Icy Soul Cold Dew· emanated a chilling aura. Ji Yuan could even see frost slowly forming around the Cold Dew.

With a casual motion, he drew the three drops of Icy Soul Cold Dew into his palm.

The Cold Dew floated above his hand.

Ji Yuan could feel the pure spiritual energy within the dew, along with that unique cold aura.

Naturally, Ji Yuan had studied this thing.

It was a type of Earth Treasure, and its production conditions were especially stringent. Usually, only within ten-thousand-year snow mountains of the far north could it possibly form.

The ice-attribute spiritual energy contained within it was the rarest substance for those with variant Ice Spiritual Roots.

So its price was unsurprisingly steep.

These three drops Ji Yuan held could easily sell for three hundred pieces of Low-Grade Spirit Stone.

That meant three pieces of Middle-Grade Spirit Stone per day. Just one of the【Fish Pond】’s daily yields could bring in ninety pieces of Middle-Grade Spirit Stone in a month.

This way, it wouldn’t even take a full month to recoup the cost—and still have surplus.

Moreover, Ji Yuan had seen in some reference books that if water-attribute cultivators continuously absorbed this Icy Soul Cold Dew, their spiritual energy could gradually gain a trace of ice attribute power.

It was even said that one’s Water Spiritual Root could transform into an Ice Spiritual Root.

Of course, exactly how much Icy Soul Cold Dew was needed for this persistent transformation—was not recorded in the book.

It only said: “Persist consistently.”

Presumably, this item was too rare, and even the one who recorded the knowledge had failed to succeed.

But the claim that continued absorption could endow spiritual energy with ice attribute was true—Ji Yuan knew that a senior cultivator had once succeeded.

So he decided to give it a try.

In any case, with three drops of Icy Soul Cold Dew per day, he had nothing to lose—he might as well absorb them like Spirit Stones to cultivate.

If someday he could truly transform his Water Spiritual Root into an Ice Spiritual Root, that would be a tremendous blessing.

If not, it was no big deal. He’d lost nothing anyway.

After storing the three drops of Icy Soul Cold Dew, Ji Yuan summoned the panel.

With the Fish Pond at level 3, he could now view the spiritual effects of level 4.

【Fish Pond: lv4 (Not Upgradeable)】

【Spiritual Effect 1: Produces one tael of Millennium Cold Spirit Milk annually. Greatly increases the probability of general advancement for Spiritual Fish. Boosts the chance of ice-attribute mutation. Growth speed +50%.】

【Spiritual Effect 2 (Flood Dragon Transformation): Flood Dragon-type Demon Beasts have an extremely small probability to evolve into Fourth-Tier Spiritual Beasts — Dragons.】

【Upgrade Requirements: Middle-Grade Spirit Stone × 800; One Third-Tier Ice-Attribute Demon Core; One complete corpse of a Third-Tier Flood Dragon-type Demon Beast; Dragon Blood Stone × 3 pieces.】

After reading the level 4【Fish Pond】spiritual effects,

the first thought that popped into Ji Yuan’s mind was·.Who said true dragons couldn't emerge from shallow waters?

Spiritual Effect — Flood Dragon Transformation?

What was a dragon?

A small dragon without horns, and it was a Flood Dragon.

Ji Yuan had no doubt—if he kept upgrading the【Fish Pond】, it might not even take many more levels before a true dragon could be nurtured within it.

By then, the spiritual effect might very well be called “Descent of the True Dragon.”

And what tier would a True Dragon be?

Ji Yuan couldn’t help but feel both expectant and curious.

At the very least, he had never heard of a True Dragon in the Cangluo Continent. Flood Dragons, on the other hand, did exist. It was said that many of them lived in the Falling Star River, and occasionally came ashore to stir up storms.

But that was fine too. Perhaps it wouldn’t be long before he himself had a Third-Tier Demon Beast—an Ice Flood Dragon hatchling.

At that time, if he raised it with this Icy Soul Cold Dew, its growth would surely be swift. By then… perhaps even at the Foundation Establishment Stage, he could possess a Golden Core Stage Demon Beast.

With the【Fish Pond】now fully upgraded, Ji Yuan gained something to look forward to in his daily cultivation.

Basically, whenever he stepped out from his【Cave Dwelling】, he would stroll over to the【Fish Pond】to check if any had evolved into Ice Flood Dragons.

After cultivating at home for another ten days, Ji Yuan took time to return to the sect.

This time, he went back to visit Hua Yaoyue on Drunken Flower Island.

To deliver wine.

Compared to last time, Ji Yuan was much more generous this time—he brought two jin in one go.

This was, after all, something he had promised earlier.

Despite being two jin, he didn’t pack it in one jar.

If placed in one jar, it would seem stingy. Ji Yuan still used those palm-sized wine flasks—twenty flasks total, which looked like a lot.

After delivering the wine, Hua Yaoyue even took the initiative to ask Ji Yuan if he had any difficulties in cultivation.

So Ji Yuan took the opportunity to ask about the《Water Dragon Technique》, which was reputed as the strongest spell in the Water Dragon Sect.

This technique was likewise divided into three layers.

The first layer focused on offense, named “Treading the Sea.” With both hands forming the “Treading the Sea Seal,” it could conjure a ten-zhang phantom dragon.

It bore some resemblance to the Blood-Remnant Blade Ji Yuan had obtained.

The dragon could emit a Treading Sea Dragon Roar—its sound waves turning into a storm of water blades, slashing all around while stunning nearby cultivators.

Moreover, the phantom dragon could breathe—unleashing twelve spiraling shockwaves from its mouth, with devastating power.

According to the technique, a Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator could use it to instantly kill peers of the same realm.

Even mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators would have to avoid it temporarily.

The second layer could condense the “Sea Dragon Armor,” with a Water Dragon spiraling around the body as a barrier.

Even at early-stage Foundation Establishment, it could block mid-stage Foundation Establishment spells. The power was immense.

The third layer was called “Yin-Yang Dragon Transformation.”

The Water Dragon would split into two—Black Dragon for attack, White Dragon for defense.

If the Black Dragon coiled around the enemy, it could initiate the Double Dragon Strangulation technique.

As described in the technique, once the《Water Dragon Technique》was fully comprehended, even an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator could contend with a mid-stage one. Of course, Ji Yuan didn’t believe that.

Not to mention that mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators had far more spiritual energy. If an early-stage used the full《Water Dragon Technique》, they’d likely be drained after one use.

Even if it did work—if the Water Dragon Sect’s Foundation Establishment cultivators had such a secret technique, wouldn’t the Hehuan Sect and Medicine King Valley cultivators have their own?

If everyone had them, it was the same as no one having an advantage.

When it came to real life-or-death battles, it still came down to various means and plentiful resources.

Through this exchange, Ji Yuan also experienced what it felt like to have a Golden Core stage master. Previously, he had cultivated alone,

only relying on reading in the Enlightenment Room and self-comprehension.

As for when insight struck and a breakthrough came—it was pure luck.

But with a master’s guidance, it was entirely different.

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